Sneakers have long been solidified as a wardrobe staple, surpassing the novelty of a trend years back. We’ve seen its evolution from pristine white sneaks to the ugly shoe, showing the endless possibilities of this humble, rubber-soled footwear. This year presents a plethora of must-have styles but with one reigning trademark: performance. Consumers are showing a preference for athletic kicks that are as comfortable as they are aesthetically pleasing. Functional gear for your daily commute, running errands, traveling, sports, and everything in between.
The Best Sneaker Trends of 2023
Looking for a new pair? Start with the top trends below:
1. '70s Sporty
Retro-inspired sneakers are still dominating the fashion scene, dominated by none other than the Adidas Samba, popularized by style influencers Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, and Emily Ratajkowski. Even British designer Grace Wales Bonner did a Sambas collaboration in 2022–proof of the design’s high-end appeal.
Similar-looking styles are Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 and Loewe’s Flow Logo Sneakers.
Velosamba Vegan Cycling Shoes, P6000, ADIDAS, adidas.com.ph
Flow Runner in Nylon and Suede, P43,200, LOEWE, loewe.com, €549 (approximately P33,000) Mytheresa, and £495 (approximately P35,000), Matches Fashion
2. Gorpcore
Perhaps a substantially toned-down version of yesteryear’s clunky shoes would be the more thoughtfully designed gorpcore shoes–utilitarian, outdoor shoes such as those for hiking. The brand to watch is Salomon, which was even seen on Sandy Liang runways where the shoes lent a rugged appeal to the hyper-feminine looks. A collaboration between the two brands is reportedly under way.
XT-6 Clear ‘Black Riviera’, P11,500, SALOMON, commonwealth-ftgg.ph. Salomon is also available on Lazada.
ACS PRO Advanced rubber-trimmed mesh sneakers, £175 (approximately P11,607), SALOMON, net-a-porter.com, and $230 (approximately P13,000) salomon.com
3. Retrocore
Aside from the ‘70s soccer sneaks that are peaking, retro kicks that are also sharing the spotlight are anything from New Balance, particularly the New Balance 550, which was everywhere in 2022 and will continue to be a crowd favorite. White and cream colorways are cool but those featuring fun, vintage pops of colors are also au courant. For Nike Air Force 1 fans out there, don’t worry—this style is still a top contender.
550, $109.99 (approximately P6066), NEW BALANCE, newbalance.com, and P6,295, Lazada
Air Force 1 ‘07, P5495, NIKE, nike.com
4. Running Silhouettes
In a true commitment to performance, running shoe brands like Asics and Hoka are also expected to rise in 2023 given their functional design and athletic appeal. These brands are well-loved by athletes but are slowly gaining traction in the fashion world, as Asics and Hoka both have trendy silhouettes (think subtle gorpcore vibes) that work well for casual outfits like loose-fitting jeans and a blazer.
Gel-Nimbus 9, $160 (approximately P8825), ASICS, asics.com
Women’s Runner Sneaker in Grey, $1150 (approximately P63,429), BALENCIAGA, balenciaga.com
5. Crafty Details
Brands are giving sporty trainers extra flair by way of surprising details and materials. Cecilie Bahnsen partnered up with Asics for her Spring/Summer 2023 collection where floral-embellished kicks were paired with her signature frocks. Chloe’s Nama sneakers were a hit in 2022 and will continue to shape an artisanal path for sneakers through the design’s blanket stitching. There was also Miu Miu’s New Balance kicks featuring raw hem denim, which lent a lived-in feel.
Nama Sneaker, $795 (approximately P43,849), CHLOE, chloe.com, and $741 (approximately P41,000), Farfetch
Gel Kayano 14, price unavailable, CECILIE BAHNSEN, ceciliebahnsen.com
6. Futuristic
Sneakers in architectural shapes and technical elements are the new statement shoe. Think trainers with bands, straps, bungee cords, and silver-colored details all atop chunky soles that could almost pass for outer space gear. Picks such as Nike’s Air Kukini is a good starting point while Prada’s Cloudbust Thunder will surely elevate your game.
Air Kukini, P7895, NIKE, nike.com
Cloudbust Thunder, $1230 (approximately P67,842), PRADA, farfetch.com
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